Method of and apparatus for preserving ether



at 27, 1931. E. MALLINCKRODT, JR, ET AL 1,829,529

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FRESERVING ETHER Original Filed Nov. 17, 192' Cit Fatented f llet. 27, 1331 uNirao STATES ATENT OFFICE EDWARD MALLINCKRODT, JB., 0]? ST. LOUIS, AND HENRY V. FAR-R, 0F FERGUSON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS T0 MALLINCKRODT CHEMICAL WORKS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING ETHER Original application filed November 17, .927, Serial N 0. 233,980. Divided and this application filed October This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for preserving ether, and with regard to certain more specific features, to a new and improved package for ethyl ether. This is a division of our Patent No. 1,687,320, dated January 1, 1929.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of means for protecting packaged other from certain deteriorating influences exerted by the material comprising the original inner surface of the enclosing package and the provision of means of the class described which are economical in application. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, arrangements of parts, materials and the combinations of materials and the steps and sequence of steps, which will be exemplified in the following description and the application of which will be indicated in the annexed claims;

In the accompanying drawing, the figure illustrates a cross section of a package for ether to which the present invention has been applied.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the specification and drawing.

Heretofore the conventional package for ether has comprised a metal can having the general shape of the package shown in the drawing. However, the shape of the can or package is of substantially no consequence in this invention. This previously used can was composed of conventional tin plate formed by the conventional process. During this process but after the tinning operation thereof, the plate passes through a bath of hot zinc chloride which removes dross and oxides from the tin surface. ihereafter the sheet is flushed with hot palm oil, whereby most of the zinc chloride is removed and the formation of an oxide film on the tin surface is substantially prevented.

We have found that a clean tin surface, prepared for example by the above process and whether or not in the presence of iron,

Serial No. 316,217.

exerts what is though to be a catalytic or accelerating effect upon the reaction between ethyl ether and air, whereby ethyl peroxide and/or acetaldchyde is produced.

The tin cans (of which those made by the above process are merely representative) when filled with ethyl ether, have been found to exert the above effect upon the formation of ethyl peroxide and/or acetaldehyde in the ether. The ether, filled in contact with air, carries with it sufiicient oxygen for the formation of these impurities, if thus catalyzed. It is conceivable that the effect may be other than catalytic, but in an case the invention described herein is e ective independently of the theory of chemical action exerted by the inner tin or similar surface of the can.

The presence. of ethyl peroxide and/or acetaldehyde is undesirable both in anaesthetic ether and certain grades of commercial ether.

It has been found that the rate of spoilage depends upon the character and extent of the tin or other surface exposed to the ether, the rate of decomposition being a function of the areaof active tin. Hence, by cleaning the tin before the cans are used, the active catalytie surface is exposed, to the detriment of the subsequently packaged ether. Even though the palm oil were not undesirable per se, and were left on the tin, the ether cuts through it and thereby permits the detrimental catalytic action of the tin to proceed.

It is to be understood that the above remarks, as well as those following, apply to cans made by the above process, or pure-tin cans or others having inner surfaces which are detrimental to the ether.

It has been proposed to overcome the detrimental catalytic action of the inner can surfaces by merely introducing into the container an alleged catalyst poison or anti-catalyst.

On the other hand, the present invention comprises treating tin containers or similar packages so that a non-catalytic or passive surface is produced on the inner face of the metal composing the can, said surface being devoid of objectionable influence on the V ether, whether the ether be in the presence Or out of the presence of air.

Referring to. the drawing, numeral 1 refers to the sheet iron which is surfaced on both sides with a coat of tin 8 and formed as a can or package 5." Numeral 9 indicates the harmless inner passive surface. For the production of this that is, a'teinperature which will cause oxifCl'a'UO n at a rate faster-than would be had under ordinary atmospher c conditions. :Thismay be done e'ither by heating the container as a whole,- or'byflasliing 'afiaineinto the inner portion of the can. The'temperature.

should be sufficient to cause the formation of a thin film of oxide substantially over the QIIUI'B inner surface of the container or of the material which is to become the container.

" It-is believed that the oxide coating formed is a'thin, relatively impermeable film of the OX- ide of the materialfrorn which the can is made. i V It will be seen from the above that one-of the objects of the invention is to treat the inner surface of the can, so that there is substantially no catalytic or other action between the inner surface and theether and/ or air within the can, thus obviating the necessity for using preservatives or other foreign substances. p v 7 Furthermore, the invention eliminates the V expense of a can composed completely of the non-detrimentalsubstance but, at slight expense, makes the ordinary economical tin can available for packaging ether.

It is 'to be understood that the tin 'or other plate may be treatedin the manner described before or after the can isformed.

It is also to be understood that the inner surface ofthe cap! may be treated asabove described if it is desired to manufacture the cap from material similar to the material composing the can,

By entirely orfcompletely surfacing of the inside of the can is meant herein, at least the surfacing of the container portionor portions without the cap," since the cap may be composed of non-detrimental material or its areamay be so small that its detrimental eflect is negligible.

v In view oftheabove, it will beseen that the several objects, of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above, without departing from the 'scope of the invention, itis intended that all matter contained in the above description or plication oi shownein the accompanying drawing sha-ll be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

'We claim: r

1. The method of packing ether which comprises treating the interior surfaces of packages for ether in order to oxidize said "surfaces; said treatment comprising thezapplication of heat, and introducing ether therein."

2. The method ofpackaging ether which comprises treating theinterior surfaces of packages for ether in order to oxidize said surfaces, said treatmentcomprising the application of heat at an oxidizingtemperature, and introducing ethertherein.

3, The method of packa ing ether which comprises treating the interior surfaces of packages for etiier in order to oxidize said surfaces, said treatment comprising the application of heat to the entire container, and

introducing ether therein.

4. The method of packaging ether which comprises oxidizing the entire surface of a material by the application of heat, forming a. package from said material, and introducingether therein.

5. The method of packaging ether which comprises oxidizing the entire surface of a material by the application of heat at an oxidizingtemperature, forming a package from said material, and introducing ether therein.

6. Themethod of packaging ether which comprises treating the entire interior surfaces of packages for ether to oxidize said surfaces, said treatment comprising the apf heat to the entire container at an oxidizing temperature, and introducing ether therein. V

7.'Th'e method of packaging ether which comprises treating the interior surfaces of packages for other to oxidize said surfaces, said treatment comprising applying a flame adapted to engender an oxidizing action, and introducing ether therein. v I r 8. The methodof packaging ether which comprises forming a container, oxidizing the entire interior surface thereof with a flame,

and introducing ether therein.

9. Theether package comprising ametallic can having a flame-oxidized interior surface,

said can containing ether.

10. The ether package'comprising a metallic can having its interior surface entirely flame-oxidized, said can containing ether.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 'names to this specification this 25th day of October,'1928.

"EDWARD MALLINCKRODT. JR.

"HENRY V.FARB. V i 

